Program Overview

Carrie Steele-Pitts Home (CSPH) utilizes research-based and child welfare models to plan, create, and implement a statewide post-adoption and guardianship support group program and curriculum for 13 - 18 year old guardianship and adopted teens, as well as those with DHS permanent custody on adoptive status.

Curriculum and activities include adoption and guardianship-related discussion topics, while providing participants with experiences and opportunities, including:

• academic skill development and

• social and emotional development

to enhance self-esteem, identity formation, future goal setting, and career planning opportunities.

CSPH conducts monthly in-person guardianship and teen support groups across Georgia, with up to 5 monthly virtual post-adoption and guardianship sessions. The platform utilized is consistent with its monthly virtual meetings.

CSPH develops, plans, and implements a support program for adoptive parents and guardians of youth participating in the TAGS program. The support program includes, but is not limited to:

• facilitating parent/guardian groups,

• providing appropriate adoption-related resources and

• phone consultations.

CSPH develops and implements recruitment strategies to increase and maintain teen program participation, ensuring that participating youth and parent/guardian satisfaction surveys are administered and tracked to provide follow-up regarding any concerns, needs or trends.

CSPH ensures that all program staff receives adoption-specific training to enhance their overall skill set and increase knowledge of the post-permanency continuum.

Background

Adoption adds to the complexity of adolescent development and adopted teenagers may need extra support in dealing with certain adoption issues. For those who were adopted at an older age from the foster care system, this type of supportive environment may be helpful.  In most cases, even when teens appear happy and well-adjusted in their adoptive families, they may be masking the difficult effects of their early life experience.

With the help of adult mentors, TAGS participants strive to understand the unique aspects of adoption and are encouraged to share their concerns openly in a safe environment. For many participants, TAGS is their first opportunity to interact with others who were adopted and to see the similarities of their experiences and feelings with others with shared backgrounds.  By sharing experiences, participants can inspire other adopted teens to successfully work through their own challenges, resulting in heightened self-acceptance and self-respect.